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Panasonic ZS100 vs Pentax WG-1

Portability
87
Imaging
52
Features
65
Overall
57
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS100 front
 
Pentax Optio WG-1 front
Portability
93
Imaging
37
Features
31
Overall
34

Panasonic ZS100 vs Pentax WG-1 Key Specs

Panasonic ZS100
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 125 - 12800 (Raise to 25600)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 25-250mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 312g - 111 x 65 x 44mm
  • Released January 2016
  • Additionally referred to as Lumix DMC-TZ100
  • Successor is Panasonic ZS200
Pentax WG-1
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 157g - 114 x 58 x 28mm
  • Launched February 2011
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Panasonic ZS100 vs Pentax WG-1 Overview

Below, we will be evaluating the Panasonic ZS100 and Pentax WG-1, one being a Large Sensor Compact and the latter is a Waterproof by companies Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a crucial gap between the resolutions of the ZS100 (20MP) and WG-1 (14MP) and the ZS100 (1") and WG-1 (1/2.3") feature different sensor size.

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The ZS100 was unveiled 4 years later than the WG-1 and that is quite a serious gap as far as technology is concerned. Each of the cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic ZS100 being a Large Sensor Compact camera and the Pentax WG-1 being a Compact camera.

Before delving in to a in-depth comparison, below is a simple overview of how the ZS100 scores versus the WG-1 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS100 over the Pentax WG-1

 ZS100 WG-1 
LaunchedJanuary 2016February 2011More recent by 60 months
Screen dimension3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution1040k230kSharper screen (+810k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax WG-1 over the Panasonic ZS100

 WG-1 ZS100 

Common features in the Panasonic ZS100 and Pentax WG-1

 ZS100 WG-1 
Manually focus Very precise focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen

Panasonic ZS100 vs Pentax WG-1 Physical Comparison

If you're intending to lug around your camera, you will want to factor its weight and size. The Panasonic ZS100 has external dimensions of 111mm x 65mm x 44mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.7") and a weight of 312 grams (0.69 lbs) whilst the Pentax WG-1 has specifications of 114mm x 58mm x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1") with a weight of 157 grams (0.35 lbs).

Check out the Panasonic ZS100 and Pentax WG-1 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you select at that moment. Below is the front view sizing comparison of the ZS100 and the WG-1.

Panasonic ZS100 vs Pentax WG-1 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the ZS100 and WG-1 is 87 and 93 respectively.

Panasonic ZS100 vs Pentax WG-1 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZS100 vs Pentax WG-1 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it's difficult to picture the gap between sensor measurements purely by looking at specs. The visual here may give you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the ZS100 and WG-1.

As you can plainly see, both of the cameras have got different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The ZS100 with its bigger sensor is going to make getting bokeh less difficult and the Panasonic ZS100 will give you more detail having an extra 6MP. Higher resolution will help you crop photographs much more aggressively. The fresher ZS100 should have an advantage when it comes to sensor tech.

Panasonic ZS100 vs Pentax WG-1 sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZS100 vs Pentax WG-1 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZS100 vs Pentax WG-1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic ZS100 Portrait photography factors
Pentax WG-1 Portrait photography factors
64
has manual focus
MP count decent (20MP)
sensor size is nice (1")
offers face detection autofocus
supports RAW formats
no external flash support
35
has manual focus
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
no manual mode
can't use external flash
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic ZS100 Street photography advice
Pentax WG-1 Street photography advice
78
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor size is nice (1")
supports RAW formats
supports touch to focus
lighter than competition (312 grams)
no moving screen
54
environment proof
fixed screen
no image stabilization
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic ZS100
Sports photography with Pentax WG-1
67
silent shooting (1/16,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (20MP)
sensor size is nice (1")
offers tracking autofocus
lacks phase detect autofocus
37
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
features tracking focus
environment proof
max fps very slow (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
no image stabilization
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic ZS100 as a Travel photography camera
Pentax WG-1 as a Travel photography camera
75
lighter than competition (312g)
supports touch to focus
MP count decent (20 megapixels)
built-in flash
reasonably wide (25mm)
very long reach (250mm)
screen is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f2.8)
71
environment proof
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
flash built-in
pretty wide (28mm)
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic ZS100 Landscape photography highlights
Pentax WG-1 Landscape photography highlights
68
has manual focus
reasonably wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (20MP)
sensor size is nice (1")
supports RAW formats
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
42
has manual focus
pretty wide (28mm)
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
environment proof
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
screen is somewhat small (2.7")
no manual mode
no image stabilization
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic ZS100 Vlogging advice
Pentax WG-1 Vlogging advice
35
reasonably wide (25mm)
touchscreen capability
built in image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detection autofocus
high res video (3840 x 2160 pixels)
lighter than competition (312 grams)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
screen is not selfie friendly
doesn't have external mic port
25
pretty wide (28mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
screen isn't selfie friendly
no image stabilization
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of mic support
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Panasonic ZS100 vs Pentax WG-1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZS100 and Pentax WG-1
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS100Pentax Optio WG-1
General Information
Brand Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS100 Pentax Optio WG-1
Also Known as Lumix DMC-TZ100 -
Class Large Sensor Compact Waterproof
Released 2016-01-05 2011-02-07
Physical type Large Sensor Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Venus Engine -
Sensor type MOS CCD
Sensor size 1" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 13.2 x 8.8mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 116.2mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 20 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 5472 x 3648 4288 x 3216
Max native ISO 12800 6400
Max boosted ISO 25600 -
Lowest native ISO 125 80
RAW photos
Lowest boosted ISO 80 -
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 49 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-250mm (10.0x) 28-140mm (5.0x)
Highest aperture f/2.8-5.9 f/3.5-5.5
Macro focus range 5cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 2.7 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3" 2.7"
Screen resolution 1,040k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen technology - TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 1,166k dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 4s
Highest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/1500s
Highest silent shutter speed 1/16000s -
Continuous shooting rate 9.9fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 8.00 m (at Auto ISO) 3.90 m
Flash settings Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Forced On/Red-eye Reduction, Slow Sync., Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 4K/UHD (3840 x 2160 @ 30p/24p), 1920 x 1080 @ 60p/60i/30p/24p, 640 x 480 (30p) 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Max video resolution 3840x2160 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4, AVCHD Motion JPEG
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 312g (0.69 lbs) 157g (0.35 lbs)
Dimensions 111 x 65 x 44mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.7") 114 x 58 x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 70 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 22.8 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 12.5 not tested
DXO Low light score 559 not tested
Other
Battery life 300 shots 260 shots
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - D-LI92
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs, 3 shots @ 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots One One
Launch price $700 $350